Automatic sprinkler.



PATENTED DEC. 12, 1905. G. I. ROOKWOOD.

AUTOMATIU SPRINKLER.

v APPLIGATION FILED JUNE 15, 1905.

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I '5 i i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE I. ROCKWQOD', OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

To all whom it'may concern:

Be itknown that I, GEORGE .I. Rooxwoon', a citizen of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester and Commonwealth ofMassachusettsJiave invent: ed a new and useful Improvement in, Automatic Sprinklers, of which the following; is a specification accompanied by drawings, forming a part ofthe same, in which Figure 1 represents one of my improved sprinklers shown in elevation. Fig. 2 is avertical sectional view on line2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a topview with the diffuser removed, and

Fig. 4:; isa detached and bottom view of the diffuser.

Similar reference-figures refer to similar parts in the different views.

My invention relates to certain irnprovements in that class of automatic sprinklers which are designed, to release a stream of wa ter under pressure and diffuse the same, the apparatus being operative when subjected to a certain degree of heat; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter described, and pointed out in the annexed claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 denotes a nozzle provided with a screw-thread 2, by which it may be connected with a pipe containing water under pressure, and also a screw-thread 3, adapted to receivethe screwthreadedcollar 4 of my improved automatic sprinkler. end of the nozzle is prevented. from turning thereon by the insertion of pins 5 5, Fig. 3, in the screw-threaded joint between the collar and nozzle. The collar 1 is also provided on diametrically opposite sides with the parallel flattened surfaces 6 6 for the application of a wrench by which power may be applied to rotate the nozzle in attaching it to the pipe. The collar 4 also supports on diametrically opposite sides the vertical arms 7 7 which are united at their upper ends. Attached to the upper end of the arms is a difiuser 8, consisting of a circular disk 9, provided with a central hub 10 and a concentric depending rib 11. The hub 10 and concentric rib 11 are connected by a series of ribs 12, preferably curved, with the outer or convex sides of the ribs 12 tangential to a common circle inclosi'ng the central hub 10 and indicated by the broken line 13, Fig. 4E. The concentric rib 11 and the ribs 12 inclose a series of triangular recesses or cells 14:. Depending from the uniting of the arms 7 is a tapering boss 15, having its The collar 41 when applied to they AUTONIATIQ SPRINKLER.

Patented Dec. 12, 1905.

axis coincident with the axis of the nozzle 1 and provided with a rounded endv or tip 16,

fitting a corresponding depression 1'7v in the .upper side and near oneendof a horizontal lever 18. The end. of the lever 18 nearest the recesslfibears upon the upper, end of a post 19, provided at its lower end with a cylindrical tip 20,, which is rounded at 21 and rests ;in a corresponding recess 22, formed in the andlcovers the upper end of thenozzlel.

upper surface of a cap 23, which rests upon The end of the lever 18 farthest. from the recess 17 is supported upon theupper end of a brace or strut 2.4, the lowerend of which rests upon a shoulder 25 in the post 19.. Thestrut 2 1 is composed of twopieces 26 and 27, having conjtacting surfaces 28, which are soldered together by a fusible solder melting at apredeshown at 30', Fig. 2, as this form of the boss has beenfound in practice favorable to the proper distribution ofthestream of water as .it impinges ,againstthe under side of the cliffuser.

In assembling the various parts of. the device the cap 23is applied to the open end of the detached nozzle 1, the lever 18, supporting-post 19, and strut 2 1 are then placed in position, as shown in the drawings, and the collar 4 is screwed upon the end of the nozzle until the desired pressure is produced to securely hold the cap 23 upon the open end of the nozzle. Holes are then bored in the screwthreaded joint between the collar 4 and the nozzle, and the pins 5 are inserted to hold the collar from further rotation ,upon the nozzle and prevent any tampering with the adjustment of the apparatus.

The contacting surfaces of the post 19, lever 18, strut 2 1, and cap 23 I cover with a plating of gold to prevent corrosion of the surfaces, and thereby obviate all liability of these parts sticking together from long-continued exposure. The apparatus is applied to a water-pipe containing water under pres sure which is held in check by the cap 23 until the temperature of the room reaches the proper point to cause the fusion of the soldering material uniting the two strut-pieces 27 and 26. As soon as the adhesion of these two pieces is destroyed the piece 26 instantly swings away from the piece 27, as shown by the broken lines 31, causing the collapse of the entire structure interposed between the cap 23 and the boss 15, allowing the pressure of water in the nozzle 1 to force the cap 23 from its seat and ascend in a stream which, parted by the sides of the tapering boss 15, impinges against the under side of the diffuser 8, entering the triangular cells 14, by which the stream of water is broken and distributed.

The disk 9 preferably projects beyond the depending flange 11, forming a lip 32 and presenting a concave surface 33 to an impinging stream of water, thereby increasing the diameter of the diffuser without increasing the diameter of the depending rib 11, which preferably is small enough to prevent any of the collapsible pieces of the device from lodging on the diffuser in case the apparatus is supported in an inverted position.

The piece 26 of the strut 24 is preferably provided with a lip 34:, which enters a recess 35 in the piece 27, thereby interlocking the opposing surfaces of the two pieces 26 and 27 and facilitating the attachment of the two pieces together.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an automatic sprinkler, the combination with a, water-nozzle, and a cap closing said nozzlj'of a fixed boss and a cap-retaining device between said cap and said boss, comprising a lever arranged parallel to said cap, a post having one end bearing against said cap and its opposite end bearing against one end of said lever, and a strut interposed between said post and the opposite end of said lever, said strut consisting of attached pieces detachable by heat.

2. In an automatic sprinkler, the combination with a water-nozzle, and a cap closing sa1d nozzle, of a cap-retaining devlce compr1spost and the opposite end of said lever, said strut consisting of attached pieces detachable by heat, and means for applying pressure to said lever between its supported ends.

3. In an automatic sprinkler, the combination with a water-nozzle, and a closing-cap for said nozzle, of a fixed boss having its axis coincident with the axis of the nozzle, a lever bearing against said boss, and between its ends, a post interposed between one end of said lever and said cap, and a strut interposed between said post and the opposite end of said lever, the integrity of said strut being destroyable by heat.

4. In an automatic sprinkler, the combination with a water-nozzle and a closing cap for said nozzle, of a fixed boss, above said cap, a lever parallel with the cap and bearing against said boss, a post bearing on said cap and supporting one end of said lever and a strut resting against a shoulder on said post and supporting the opposite end of said lever, means for varying the distance between said boss and said cap.

5. In an automatic sprinkler, the combination with a water-nozzle, and a cap closing said nozzle, of a fixed boss above said cap, and a cap-retaining device interposed between said boss and said cap and consisting of a frame comprising an upright post, an oblique strut bearing against said post, and a lever supported upon said post and strut and hearing against said boss, one member of said retaining device being composed of pieces attached together by solder fusible at a predetermined degree of heat.

GEORGE I. ROCKIVOOD.

Witnesses:

PENELOPE CouBERBAoH, RUFUS B. FOWLER. 

